Aerodrome.



S. D. MOTT.

AERODROME. APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

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APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902,

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WITNESSES S. D. MOTT.

ABRODROMB.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902.

Patented Jan. 21, 1918.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

S. D. MOTT.

ABRODROME.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4 msm w \WITNESSES: INVENTOR @Mm w 270% S. D. MOTT.

AERODROME.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 30, 1902.

Mtented Jan. 21, 1913.

5 SHBETS-SHEET 5.

WITNESSES:

ShHUEL D. HOTT, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

AERODROME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

App on led September so, wna- -Serie1No- 125,3 5-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL D. Morr, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Passaic, in the county of P-assaic and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aerodromes,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to thedrawings accompanying and forming part of the same.

My invent-ion relates to .aerodromes or mechines for navigating the airpertaining to the art of aviation and consists of improvements in thatclass of machines which are heavier than the air displaced by them, andwhich it is proposed to provide with means for sustaining them in theair against the force of gravity and coincidentally controlling anddirecting their movements.

' Exclusive of motive power, my aerodrome has the elemental simplicityof a bicycle, in that it comprises in its organization only two wheelsand a frame. The latter .I have adapted to support the machine on thesurface and the load when poised in the air. The design is largely ofwire-tension construction giving it the important characteristics of lowcost, compactness, great strength, simplicity, lightness and amplefactor of safety. Should the power fail the machine would descendslantingly like the apparatus used for gliding flight. The machinerequires no starting or landing arrangements and is capable of allnecessary maneuvers in the air without devices which add weight and needhandling such as tail, rudder or wing appendage, or gas-bag impediment.It is dismantable and transportable and therefore especially adapted toarmy and navy use; for travelers and explorers, for geographical,meteorological and kindred sciences, and the general uses of man. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section through theapparatus, parts being shown in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of the lower portion of the apparatus, the upper part beingshown in section. Fig. 3 isa planof the aeroplane. Fig 4 is a plan ofa-modified shape of aeroplane. Fig. 5 is a plan of the machine with thetop portion removed.

In working on the problem of aerial navigation I have developed as apractical solution of the same an apparatus embodying machine.

1 principle or natural the compass,

novel features of construction tending to inherent stability, and novelprinciples of operation insurlng automatic control, all Work ng tosimplify the problem of mechanlcal flight. For example I have. reducedthe heretofore considered separate Patented Jan. 21, 1913. i

and independent functions of sustentation J -and propulsion to onefundamental function that of lift or the power toeflect levity; that isto say, when I provide the power for the machine to lift itself and itsoperator or operators into the air against the force of grav ty itsdesign is such that 'sustentation and controllable propulsion ortranslation through the air follows as a natural sequence of shape. Thisaccomplishment, which is the foundation of my system, is based upon anderiplainable by the law of resultant or compound forces known tophysicists asthe parallelogram of forces. For example, referring to Fig.1 of the drawings, the arrow a indicates the direction of thrust of thedriving wheels or dynamic component of the Arrow 1) indicates theconstant pull or component of gravity, and arrow 0 (the horizon) theresultant .or intermediate direction of motion. The machine, inobedience to this law, 'will therefore be impelled as though it wereacted upon by a single force in the direction of horizontal arrow 0.Hence the path in the air of the machine is the resultant of twocomponent forces, the artificial force residing in the machine, and thenatural force of gravitation, by controlling the first I utilize thesecond and thus substitute for working parts, which add weight and needskilful handling, a physical law. And further to make my machinedirigible to any point of it is provided with suitable means forshifting the center of gravity around the axis, for mals its directionof motion is based upon and determined by the center of gravity; thecenter of gravityor the angle of the axis of the machine to the horizonis determined, from the design, by the load displacement, and the atoror operators. Hence in taking my position when startingl determine thedirection of flight, and by shifting my position I change the directionof flight accordingly.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation and part section of an apparatusembodying myinvention. The posltion .15 as normal load is the oper-i like. man andland aniit would appea i the air traveling to the right in the directionof arrow 0, which, for this assumptlon must be considered the horizon.

Similar reference letters and numerals indicate like parts in thedifferent views.

The general features will be understood by inspection of Figs. 1, 2, and3. .The driving wheels or screw propellers A and B are mounted on ballor roller bearings at the apex of a spider-like dependent structuralframe C, and are arranged to be driven in opposite directions at rightangles to the axis of the machine by motor or motors ,1. Provision ismade for the operatorto readily shift his seat 20 around thecircumference of the machine on the ways 18 and 19 whereby he maydisplace the center of gravity to any point of the compass to controlthe direction of his movements through the air. The driving wheels A andB have double rims 2, 3 and 2, 3, of wood or light tubing and forstrength and lightness are fashioned after the, manner of cycle wheelshaving direct or tangent wire spokes or' both. Mounted on the rims 2, 3and 2, 3 are tiers 4, 5, 6, and 4t, 5, 6 respectively, and series 7, 8,9, etc., (Fig. 3) of aerocurves or aeroplanes made of aluminium,celluloid or like light and strong material havin the proper shape andpitch to form an e cient aerial screw propeller. These propellers,constituting by their thrust when in motion the plane of buoyancy, aredriven in opposite directions by the active and reactive elements of themotor, in order that (1) the action and reaction of the motor, when freefrom a fixed base, shall be absorbed in the driving, and (2) thedepending andsupporting part C of the machine together'with theoperators shall be stationary relative to the motion of the drivingwheels A and B on their axes. These wheels together with their motorsrevolve freely on their bearings 10 mounted at the top 'of the motiveagent retainer 10 and are readily removable for any purpose. The upperand lesser diameter propeller A is usually made of higher pitch thanBand (may have a greater aeroplane surface so as auto balance or equalizeas much as may be the inertia or resistance to motion of the two.

The backbone of the machine is the retainer 10 of the dependingstructure C. This retainer contains alcohol or gasolene or othersuitable hydrocarbon which is permitted to drip into the carbureter 11by the pipe 12 and the cook 13. The carbureter in this instance consistsof coiled porous piping 14. The air is drawn by the suction of theengine through the saturated porous tubing and carbureted in its passage(indicated by arrows) into the upper part of chamber 10 of the retainer10 to act as a motive agent for the motors 1. The throttle is seen at 15and may be manipulated from obstruction.

named rims 18 and 19 are suitably formed to serve as a circular railwayto support the seat or seats 20, thereby permitting the occupant freebodily movement around the axis to shift the center of gravity to anypoint.

of the compass desired as has been hereinbefore referred to. To furtherstrengthen and complete the wire-tension depending, frame at the upperpart of retainer 10 is another wheel-like frame consisting of rim 21-and spokes 22 and between rims 21 and foot rest rim 17, are stay wires23 to which is fixed a circular hand-rail 24 conveniently positioned forthe person or persons using the machine. r

In the motive power illustrated it is assumed that the parts are soproportioned and constructed that the speed andpower of the motor whendirectly'geared to the pro pellers is sufficient for their purposes. Itwill be understood, however, that gearing or its equivalent may be usedbetween the motor and the driving wheels for changing the speed ratiobetween them'as may be desired. The weight and load of this aerodromebeing wholly below the plane of buoyancy, the machine in theory is morestable than a yacht or other water craft. In case of breakage whennavigating provision is readily made, if desired, to brake or stop thedriving wheels to take full or partial advantage of their parachuteaction when descending. The initial lift from the surface of the earthis vertical; the normal position in the air is oblique to the surface orhorizon; and the normal direction of lift a tangent to the horizon. Theascent and descent generally speaking, is governed by the throttle valvewhich regulates the power. If it is desired to go over an-object theascensional force is increased; if it is desired to go under an objectthe buoyancy is diminished. Anoperator would go around an obstruction byshifting right or left at right angles or approximately thereto to thesight-line of the Progress is checked as by a brake by the operatorshifting his position opposite to the direction of flight therebyreversing the resultant of driving wheels but not of course theirmotion. Similarly the speed is increased by greater velocity ofpropellers and greater inclination of the vertical axis to the horizon,both of which expedients are in the immediate control of the operator.By checking the speed of the drivers the machine will descend; if in astrong wind at the point of settling or landing the operator will shifthis position to the windward; if in a calm a position in line with thevertical axis will cause the machine to alight with precision andsafety.

It will thus be seen that my invention eliminates from the problem ofmechanical flight the confusing devices usually considered indispensablefor giving direction, maintaining equilibrium, etc., and that tonavigate and perform all necessary or desirable evolutions in e air itis only requisiteto give sufficient d sk area and aeroplane surface tomy driving wheels, supplemented with sufficient power in my motor toyield the dynamic thrust to overcome gravity when starting and justneutralize gravity when navigating; requiring some experience but reallyless skill than riding a bicycle, sailing a boat or maneuvering anautomobile.

Having described my invention I declare my claims as follows:

1. In an aerodrome, the combination of a rotary propeller mechanismhaving a normally vertical thrust, a frame pendant from and having aswiveling relation to said propeller mechanism, and a load carryingdevice mounted on said frame eccentrically of the axis of rotation ofsaid propeller mechanism and adapted to be shifted circumferentiallyabout the axis of rotation of said Propeller mechanism, whereby thehorizontal traverse of the aerodrome will result from the overbalancingof the entire machine and the direction of traverse will be controlledby the shifting of the center of gravity.

2. In an aerodrome, the combination of a rotary propeller mechanismhaving a normally vertical thrust, a frame pendant from and having aswiveling relation to said propeller, and extending about the axis ofrotation thereof, a circular track carried by said frame and extendingcircumferentially about the axis of rotation of said propeller, and loadcarrying means mounted upon said track and adapted to traverse same,whereby the load on said means will normally overbalance the machine togive a horizontal component of motion to the machine and the directionof traverse may be controlled by the shifting of the load.

3. In an aerodrome, the combination of a plurality of oppositely rotatedpropellers acting in parallel planes and having a normally verticalthrust, pendant concentric shafts for said propellers respectively, amomay tor simultaneously rotating said shafts but in oppositedirections, a frame pendant from and havin a swiveling relation to saidpropeller shafts, load carryin means carried by said frame adjacent tosaid shafts, whereby a low center of gravity is afforded the machine andthe load will be disposed upon one side of the machine to normally tiltit from the vertical to cause a resultant horizontal component of motionof said propellers, and

means whereby said load carrying means may be shifted circumferentiallyabout said shafts to permit the changing of the center of gravity of themachine to control the direction of traverse thereof.

4:. In an aerodrome, the combination of a plurality of superposedrotatable propellers, a motor mounted on the shaft of one of saidpropellers and acting on the shaft of the tion to the machine, and theload may be shifted circumferentially of the propellers to vary thedirection of traverse.

5. In an aerodrome, the combination with a rotary propeller having anormally vertical thrust, a frame pendant from and having a swivelingrelation to said propeller, a track extending circumferentially aboutthe axis of rotation of said propeller, a seat for the operator extendinat an angle-downwardly and outwardly re ative to the axis of rotation ofsaid propeller, whereby the machine will be overbalanced to.,give ahorizontal component of motion to the machine while causing the operatorto remain upright, said seat being mounted on said track whereby it bemoved circumferentially about the axis of rotation of said propeller toshift the center of gravity to change the direction of the horizontaltraverse of the machine.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL D. MOTT.

Witnesses:

F. R. HUTTON, FRANK H. DAVIS.

